Latest news with #Plumtree
The South African
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Springbok Concern? Plumtree provides Etzebeth injury update
Springboks great Eben Etzebeth was ruled out of last Saturday's URC semi-final clash against the Bulls following a head knock during training. The match ended in the latter's favour, who won 25-13 under Loftus lights. Heading into the match Sharks coach John Plumtree provided an injury update on the two-time World Winner: that he would be available if they advanced to the final, which will be music to ears of Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus. It's been a tumultuous time for South Africa's most capped player, who was sidelined for several months after picking up a concussing against Exeter Chiefs last December. A relapse in symptoms prolonged his recovery. 'He got a head knock at training, but he's feeling a lot better already. We decided that it's best not to risk him this week, so we made a pretty early call,' Plumtree said last friday. 'He's feeling a lot better by the way, he's been communicating with me and the team, and I'm not overly concerned about it. I'm pretty sure that if we go through, he'll be available next week.' 'Eben's probably the best lock in the world so it's a big loss, but the thing is it's a team game. One person doesn't make this team and we've won games without him this year,' Plumtree added. 'Jason is a big loss for us too. He played a pivotal role for us, with Eben being out for so much. He's played at four, and he's played at five. It's really disappointing not to see him in the Springbok squad at the moment as well. I think he deserves to be there.' 'Obviously Corne is a different player to Emile, in so many ways. Corne's more abrasive, and Emile's the ball winner, and a smart player and a good developer in his leadership as well. We've got full backing of the boys, and the boys are really pleased they've got this opportunity.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
John Plumtree reflects on tough, but improved season for Sharks
Despite enjoying their best season in the URC to date, there is still a sense the Sharks underperformed, with the talent at their disposal. Sharks coach John Plumtree has presided over an improved, but still unsatisfactory season with the union. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images The Sharks' season came to an abrupt end over the weekend when they were dumped out of the United Rugby Championship (URC) at the semifinal stage by fierce rivals, the Bulls, at Loftus. It ended a much improved second season at the helm for coach John Plumtree, but many critics were still unhappy due to the Springbok firepower that the union have at their disposal. In the semifinal played at Loftus on Saturday evening the Sharks boasted a team featuring Rugby World Cup winners Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Jaden Hendrikse, Andre Esterhuizen, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi. They also had Aphelele Fassi and Jordan Hendrikse in the starting XV, and Ntuthuko Mchunu and Phepsi Buthelezi on the bench, who have all played for the Boks in the past year. They were however missing their captain and Bok enforcer Eben Etzebeth, along with Trevor Nyakane and Grant Williams who would have added even more Bok firepower to their stocks. Despite the wealth of experience and talent at their fingertips, the Sharks still finished third on the log and dropped out in the semis. But it is still a major improvement after a disastrous previous campaign that saw them finish 14th on the URC log, although they picked up the Challenge Cup trophy to slightly salvage that season. Tough balance Plumtree explained that even though they have immense talent in the group, it was still tough to get the balance right over a long season, in which they missed players on international duty at stages and had to rest them as well. 'It has been a tough season. I learnt a lot in what was my second season of the URC. There were really tough periods of the season, especially after the November internationals when we had tired Boks coming back,' explained Plumtree. 'How we can compete in the tournament with players who have just played 14 internationals is a challenge. And then after Christmas, they go through their Springbok resting, and it's about navigating that period with the rest of the team. 'We also had 18, 19 injuries at one stage, which was a crisis. When you do finally get everyone back in, it's about where you're sitting on the log and how you can progress in two tournaments (the URC and EPCR). Looking ahead Plumtree highlighted the need to build depth at the union, with players who will be able to adequately fill in when their star Springboks are unavailable. 'The key for us is to make sure we have depth in our squad to be able to do well without Springbok players. We showed that this year but it is going to be a continuing challenge for us to keep strengthening the squad,' said Plumtree. 'I think we have done really well with the players we had and we have managed to pick up points. Coaching the Sharks is not for the fainthearted and it keeps me awake at night.'
TimesLIVE
08-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Sharks' Plumtree goes back to drawing board, Bulls' White sets sights on URC final
After another season that ended with a disappointing semifinal defeat by the Bulls, Sharks coach John Plumtree admitted it was a tough United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign but valuable lessons were learnt by all involved. The Sharks lost 25-13 to the Bulls in their clash at a packed Loftus on Saturday where the home side qualified for their third Grand Final appearance against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday. The Bulls will be hoping it's third time lucky. They lost their previous cup finals to the Stormers and Glasgow Warriors. For a Sharks side laden with Springboks it is back to the proverbial drawing board. 'It has been a tough season. I learnt a lot in what was my second season of the URC,' said Plumtree as he reflected on the underwhelming season.
IOL News
07-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Plumtree regrets Sharks' missed opportunities but praises Bulls' defence in their URC semi-final win
Sharks coach John Plumtree rued his team's missed opportunities in Saturday night's 25-13 loss to the Bulls in the URC semi-final but praised the Bulls for keeping his team out. The Bulls are through to the final against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday. 'Overall, we were disappointed with our performance; we had plenty of opportunities to win the game,' Plumtree said. 'With five minutes to go before half-time, we put the Bulls under pressure, they conceded two yellow cards, but we were not good enough to finish them off.' Plumtree said that it should have been closer to 15-15 at half-time. Instead, the Sharks were behind 15-3. 'After half-time, we felt that if we got our game going a bit more, and played a bit flatter on the gain line, we could up the pressure. We did that and scored a few nice tries. 'Later in the game, we were not good enough. Credit to the Bulls — their defence was outstanding, especially in defending their line. They had a massive crowd cheering them on, and that made it a pretty tough nut to crack tonight.' Plumtree said the game lived up to the pre-game hype that it would be a South African clash of giants. 'It was very physical out there. There were a lot of injuries. I hope Cameron (Hanekom) is not too badly hurt,' Plumtree said of an unfortunate sight of the Bulls' No 8 being taken off the field on a golf cart. 'It was great to see so many people here tonight. We get the best URC crowds here in South Africa. 'From my side, I have loved this season with the boys to get to this point, but we are disappointed that we have not kicked on. 'We had plenty of territory and plenty of ball, but we could not convert it into points. We have to congratulate the Bulls. They were pretty good, and we were just a little bit off tonight.'
IOL News
06-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Plumtree confident Sharks can beat Bulls in URC semi-final without Eben Etzebeth
SHARKS lock Corne Rahl has some big shoes to fill with Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth out injured for the URC semi-final at Loftus. | BackpagePix Sharks coach John Plumtree reckons his blood pressure has only recently returned to normal after the drama of a penalty shoot-out with Munster last week, and the early week injury to Eben Etzebeth won't have helped his stress levels. That said, Plumtree was calm and philosophical when he spoke to the media about his team's chances of upsetting the Bulls in Saturday's United Rugby Championship semi-final at Loftus Versfeld. Etzebeth has been replaced by youngster Corne Rahl while Emile van Heerden comes in for another injured Springbok in Jason Jenkins. Apart from that double blow in the second row, Plumtree has picked the same starting 15 that won the quarter-final. Plumtree said the loss of his first-choice locks was a setback but stressed that rugby is a team sport. 'How much of a loss is Eben? He is probably the best lock in the world, so it's a big loss, but the thing is it's a team game; one person doesn't make this team and we've won games without him this year,' Plumtree said. 'He got a head knock at training,' explained Plumtree. 'We decided that it's best not to risk him this week, so we made a pretty early call. 'He's feeling a lot better by the way, he's been communicating with me and the team, and I'm not overly concerned about it. I'm pretty sure that if we go through, he'll be available next week.' Plumtree admitted that the injury to the in-form Jenkins had also been keenly felt. 'Jason is a big loss for us, too. He played a pivotal role for us, with Eben being out for so much; he's played at four, and he's played at five,' Plumtree added. 'It's really disappointing not to see him in the Springbok squad at the moment as well. I think he deserves to be there.' Etzebeth's replacement, Rahl, is hardly a lightweight. The blond-haired giant is 2.03m and weighs 122kg. Importantly, the 22-year-old has been under Etzebeth's wing for two years and would have learned plenty from the best in the business. The other incoming lock, Van Heerden, is no slouch and has the pedigree of being the son of former Springbok lock Fritz van Heerden. He, in any case, played most of last week's game after Jenkins went off injured. 'Corne is a different player to Emile, in so many ways. Corne's more abrasive, and Emile's the ball winner, and a smart player, and is developing good leadership as well,' Plumtree explained. 'We've got full backing of the boys, and the boys are really pleased they've got this opportunity.' As Plumtree says, his team have won important games this season without the likes of Etzebeth. In fact, the Sharks have yet to field a full-strength side against the Bulls this season, and they are yet to lose to the Pretoria team. They have got over the line in their last three outings against the Bulls, and Etzebeth did not play in those games. Plumtree said that the harrowing, 100-minute quarter-final meant the players had to take it easy this week, and the preparation has been more mental. 'With big games like this, it's often your easiest week as a coach. The players are all excited about the opportunity. 'We had to lighten the load a lot in training based on what happened last weekend, but they're feeling good.' Plumtree said his forwards are excited about going up against the much-vaunted Bulls pack. 'It's not just about who gets front-foot ball but also the psychological battle, and that's what it's all about, these big contests. The Bulls are not just a scrummaging team, they're a good set-piece team, particularly at Loftus,' Plumtree said. 'These are big derby games, aren't they? The Sharks-Bulls game at Loftus, everyone in Durban will be watching this game of rugby because it's based on the contests there have been over the years, and there have been some great contests.' Sharks team 15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Ethan Hooker 13 Lukhanyo Am 12 Andre Esterhuizen 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Jordan Hendrikse 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Siya Kolisi (captain) 7 Vincent Tshituka 6 James Venter 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl 3 Vincent Koch 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ox Nche. Bench: 16 Fez Mbatha 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Deon Slabbert 20 Phepsi Buthelezi 21 Bradley Davids 22 Jurenzo Julius 23 Yaw Penxe.
